There is plenty to do in the commercial city of Shenzhen. Shenzhen has many amusement parks, beaches and gardens making it the perfect vacation destination for families and business people alike.
The Shiyanhu Hot Spring Holiday Villa is a great place to relax both the body and the mind, especially for business people. With the famous Yulu Hot Springs close by, this resort is a fabulous place to unwind. The hot spring has a temperature of 67.3° F (19° C) and is filled with minerals and herbs that are beneficial to the skin as well as aching muscles and joints. There are outdoor recreational facilities including motor boating, horse riding, tennis, archery and skiing. The Shiyanhu Hot Spring Holiday Villa is located near Shiyan Lake, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from northwest Shenzhen.
Another option for the business executive is at the Guanlan Golf Club. This place is ideal for a business meeting and for some ‘R and R’. It is recognized by the PGA and the two golf courses were designed by world-famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. With a practice driving range on the premises, this club is the perfect place to play a few rounds with a business partner. The recreational facilities here include a gym, billiards room, hot spring bathroom, sauna room, tennis court and badminton room. There is also a lake here where guests of the club can boat, surf or swim.
If you are looking for a family oriented vacation the Happy Valley Theme Park has plenty of rides, games and fun activities. Located at Overseas Chinese Town, this amusement park has roller coasters, water slides, and a 4-D theater. In the center of the park is Happy Theater where children’s shows are staged three times a day. There is also Cartoon Town which takes children into the world of their favorite cartoon characters. The highest point in Happy Valley is Adventure Hill where kids can enjoy the Old Gold Mine River Raft ride. There is a water park with swimming pools and an uphill water roller coaster. This is the city's first amusement park that combines lodging with sightseeing, shopping and entertainment.
Honey Lake China Amusement Park is another exciting place for the kids. The largest amusement park in China, Honey Lake Park is located in the center of Futian district in Shenzhen city and is part of the Honey Lake Resort. It has the largest selection of amusement park rides in Shenzhen. A sort of ‘Chinese Disneyland’, this park also has water slides, roller coasters and a Ferris wheel.
Minsk World is both an entertaining and educational place to take the whole family. Built on a decommissioned and renovated aircraft carrier of the former U.S.S.R, this military theme park is the only one of its kind in China. Situated in Shatoujiao town, this park is close to the famous Zhongying Street. The Minsk has on display its original artillery, command systems, and torpedo and missile launching facilities which are part of a guided tour of the vessel.
Another place must-see in Shenzhen is Nan-ao Bay. Here you get the freshest and tastiest seafood in the entire city. You can try out some of the local delicacies such as octopus and go for a boat ride in the bay. Nan-ao Bay is only a 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) across the water from Hong Kong.
Shenzhen Beaches
Shenzhen has an extensive coastline with many beautiful beaches. The Dameisha and the Xiaomeisha are two of the most popular beaches in the city. Located on Dapeng Bay, these two beaches offer the prefect getaway from city life. A 40 minute bus trip from downtown to the seashore, Dameisha and Xiaomeisha are recognized together as one of the top eight scenic spots in Shenzhen. Easily accessible and only 5 minutes apart from each other, these beaches are a great way to spend the day either with family or alone. Dameisha beach is open to the public free of charge, while Xiaomeisha beach charges ¥15 per person and is slightly more private.
Dubbed as the 'Hawaii of the East,' these two beautiful beaches are popular with tourists and locals. Besides swimming, there are many other fun activities on the seashore such as beach volleyball, paragliding and windsurfing. With its coconut trimmed shoreline, these beaches are also very romantic and many local mass weddings taking place here.
Every July, Shenzhen hosts the annual Golden Beach Festival in Dameisha Beach which is a popular water sports competition. This beach is also famous for an annual international sand-sculpting competition and artists from around the globe come to participate in this event. Located on Dameisha Beach is the Dameisha Seashore Park where you can sea parachute, water ski, go motor boating and snorkeling in the beautiful Dapeng Bay.
If you prefer a quieter vacation, Sanmen Island is the place to go. This island was uninhabited until 1899 and sits off the eastern coast of Shenzhen, where Dapeng Bay and Daya Bay meet. One of the few ecologically unspoiled islands in China, Sanmen Island is perfect for people who want to be close to nature. Located on the island is the Sanmen Island Holiday Village which caters to tourists. With plenty of leisure activities on the sea, in the sky and on land, this island is an idyllic retreat from the city.
